Brenda S. McDaniel

“God gave each of us the gift of life, and Jesus Christ gifted us with eternal life.”

Brenda Jones McDaniel was born on December 26, 1959, in Delight, Arkansas to Ellar Mae Jones and Herbert Jones, Sr. She accepted Christ early in life and united with Harrison Chapel Baptist Church in Delight, Arkansas. She grew up in Delight and was a 1977 graduate of Delight High School. She was active in sports and played Guard on the girls’ basketball team.

Brenda was a cherished member of the community. She was competitive and strong-minded, a farm girl at heart. She met the love of her life, Kenneth Ray McDaniel. After a short courtship, the two were married on July 3, 1976, and the Lord added to their union Kendall and Channing. Upon marriage, Brenda moved her membership to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Okolona, Arkansas. She served faithfully until her demise.

She worked at Idlehoar Nursing Home in Murfreesboro for a short time. Upon leaving the nursing home, she was employed by Poulan of Nashville, Arkansas for 38 years.

Brenda was a remarkable mother. She taught her sons to laugh and cry, face their challenges, and never hide from them. She encouraged her family to be unapologetic in their beliefs and plant something and watch it grow! She loved working outside on the farm with Kenneth, feeding and riding the horses, carriage rides, bailing hay, and driving the tractor. She provided home-cooked meals daily for her family, with her specialty being chili beans and spaghetti.

Her valiant fight with cancer was her greatest testament, it was her wish that all would be grateful for each day given. She passed from this life on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at CHI St. Vincent Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ellar Mae Jones (March 30, 2023) and Herbert Jones, Sr.

Her memory and love will live in the hearts of her husband, Kenneth Ray McDaniel; sons, Kendall (Carla), and Channing (LeAnn); eight grandchildren, Quincy McDaniel, KJ McDaniel, Keira McDaniel, Kesmond McDaniel, Lakyn McDaniel, LJ McDaniel, Lainee Stone, and Layken Stone; two great-grandsons, Malachi and Madden; siblings, Herbert (Naquia S. Monk) Jones, Jr. and Barbara Warren; her niece, Lartina (Patrick) Jones-Dennis, and nephew, Lashad Jones; a bonus aunt, Minnie Hunter, and a special cousin/sister Toccara Leeper-McFadden that grew up with Kendall and Channing as the daughter they never had. She also leaves her extended McDaniel family, as well as, the Harrison Chapel and Pleasant Grove Baptist Church families. She was fearless and adventurous. With her infectious smile and incredible laugh, she was always a ray of sunshine when she walked into a room.

A viewing for family and friends will be from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 26, 2023. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. A service in honor of her life will be shared at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, with Rev. B.D. Williamson, officiating, and Rev. Rufus Hatley, eulogist. Services will conclude with the burial at Pleasant Grove Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Corey Hunter, Donte Norton, Remond Thomas, Courtney Leeper, Derrick Beard, Rodney Gentry, and Carl Morgan, Jr.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14: Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.